David Ross and Jose Quintana got hit by the first round of the flu that went through Cubs camp, but it seems it isn’t all in the clear.
Two scratches today for the Cubs:
Darvish and Kipnis scratched from lineup because of flu.
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) March 5, 2020
Obviously you worry less about the flu – which, in these kinds of colloquial parlance, could mean actual influenza or just the shits – than you would about an injury, but you generally don’t love to see guys missing time in the build-up process. Hopefully this is just a little extra caution and rest, because you might as well.
Darvish was touching 97 mph with his fastball already this Spring, so it’s not necessarily like he needs a ton of addition arm strength time. Maybe some extra rest will be fine, so long as he isn’t hit too hard by the bug.
As for Kipnis, he’s battling to win a job on the roster – and some starts at second base – so hopefully he can get back out there soon.
Also: stay away from everyone else, wash hands, cough into your shoulder, and all that good stuff.